Chao's real estate development company, Farglory Land Development, ranks as one of Taiwan's largest.

Chao's real estate development company, Farglory Land Development, ranks as one of Taiwan's largest. It is expanding on the mainland through a joint venture with Hong Kong billionaire Hui Wing Mao's Shimao Group. Last November announced plans to invest as much as $1 billion in a project that will house the stock exchange in Abu Dhabi.

The list was compiled using shareholding and financial information from the individuals, stock exchanges and analysts. Net worths are based on stock prices and exchange rates as of the close of markets on May 13. Private companies were valued based on the price-to-book ratios of similar companies that are publicly traded. This ranking, unlike Forbes' list of the world's billionaires, includes numerous family fortunes shared by individuals with their children and grandchildren, or with their siblings. Photo: ImagineChina